Daily "The Hindu" Vocab & Editorial 20 February 2026 | English Notes for SSC by Bhragu Sir

Daily "The Hindu" Vocab & Editorial 20 February 2026 provides SSC-focused English notes covering vocabulary, idioms, root words, grammar, and editorial analysis. This session helps students improve comprehension, language accuracy, and overall performance in SSC GD, SSC CGL, CHSL, RRB Group D, NTPC, ALP, and other government recruitment exams. 

The class is structured to strengthen English fundamentals and connect language learning with current affairs.

Bhragu Sir begins with motivation, reminding students that consistent effort and regular study are essential. He emphasizes that confidence comes from hard work and perseverance. Students are encouraged to stay disciplined and practice vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension daily.

Daily The Hindu Vocab & Editorial 20 February 2026

The session follows a step-by-step approach: motivation, vocabulary learning, idioms, root word study, grammar practice, and editorial analysis. Regular revision of these elements improves reading speed, comprehension, and the ability to answer cloze, error spotting, and multiple-choice questions effectively.

Vocabulary Building: Words with Pictures

Key vocabulary words are introduced with meanings, synonyms, contrasts, and examples for easy understanding:

• Deployment: The strategic placement, allocation, or stationing of resources or personnel.
  Synonyms: Allocation, placement.

• Ecosystem: A complex, interconnected network of elements that work together.

• Biodiverse: Rich in variety of plant and animal life.
  Synonyms: Plentiful, abundant, rich.

• Protocol: Official rules, procedures, or guidelines governing affairs.
  Synonym: Guidelines.
  Contrast: Turbulence.

• Militarized: Controlled or influenced by the military.
  Synonyms: Armed, military-influenced.

• Counter: To act in opposition to something.
  Synonyms: Oppose, act against.
  Contrast: Propose.

• Lucid: Clear and easy to understand.
  Synonym: Transparent.
  Contrast: Perception.

• Rationale: The logical reason for a belief or action.
  Synonym: Justification, logic.
  Contrast: Purification.

• Civic: Relating to the duties and activities of citizens.

• Confront: To face a problem directly.
  Synonym: Face.
  Contrast: Erase.

Practice Quiz & Application

This section tests understanding of vocabulary and idioms.

1. Glimpse: What is the synonym for glimpse?

• Answer: Glance. A glimpse refers to a brief or partial view.

• Incorrect Options: Examine (inspect in detail), Stare (look fixedly), Observe (watch carefully).

2. High and low: What is the meaning of the idiom high and low?

• Answer: Everywhere. This idiom means to look everywhere for something or someone.

3. One-Word Substitution: What is a "huge fire for celebration" called?

• Answer: Bonfire. This refers to a large outdoor fire, especially one lit as part of a celebration.

4. Correct Spelling: Identify the sentence with the correct spelling.

• Selected Sentence: "He is the good looking hero of the entire film industry."

• Pedagogical Note: While grammatically incorrect (should be "better-looking"), this option was chosen as it contains no spelling errors, unlike other choices.

Idiomatic Expressions

1. To cut one's wisdom tooth:

• Meaning: To gain experience, often through a difficult or challenging process.

• Answer: To gain experience with difficulty.

2. Jumping down my throat:

• Meaning: To scold or criticize someone severely and unexpectedly.

• Answer: Scolding me.

3. To clutch at straws:

• Meaning: To make a desperate attempt to salvage a hopeless situation, often by trying useless options.

• Answer: To desperately try useless options.

Root Word Study: MAL

The root MAL means bad, evil, or wrong.

• Malicious: Having bad intentions

• Malign: To speak ill of someone

• Malignant: Harmful or dangerous

• Malevolent: Wishing harm to others

• Malpractice: Professional wrongdoing

• Malfunction: Failure to function properly

• Maltreat: To treat cruelly

• Malnutrition: Poor nutrition

• Malady: Disease or ailment

One-Word Substitutions

• Enigma: A puzzling or mysterious situation

• Hedonist / Sybarite: A person devoted to luxury and pleasure

• Braggart: A person who boasts about achievements

• Pedant: A person excessively concerned with minor details or rules

• Egotist: A person excessively self-absorbed

• Narcissist: A person with excessive admiration of oneself

The Hindu Editorial Vocabulary: Core of the Session

This section focuses on key vocabulary from "The Hindu" editorial.

1. Dilute (Verb)

• Definition: To weaken or reduce the strength, force, or effectiveness of something.

• Synonyms: Weaken, undermine, reduce, soften.

• Antonyms: Strengthen, intensify, reinforce.

• Example: "The amendment diluted the original power of the act."

2. Withholding (Gerund/Noun)

• Definition: The act of refusing to give, grant, or disclose something.

• Synonyms: Retaining, suppressing, concealing, denying.

• Antonyms: Releasing, revealing, disclosing, providing.

• Example: "The officer justified withholding certain information."

3. Override (Verb/Noun)

• Definition: To reject or cancel a decision, order, etc., using a higher authority.

• Synonyms: Overrule, cancel, nullify, set aside.

• Antonyms: Uphold, approve, confirm, validate.

• Example: "Public interest can override personal concerns."

4. Blanket ban (Noun Phrase/Idiom)

• Definition: A complete and total prohibition on something, without any exceptions.

• Synonyms: Total ban, absolute prohibition, complete restriction.

• Antonyms: Partial permission, conditional approval.

• Example: "The law imposed a blanket ban on sharing personal data."

5. Information asymmetry (Noun Phrase)

• Definition: A situation in which one party in a transaction or relationship has more or superior information compared to another.

• Synonyms: Information imbalance.

• Antonyms: Information equality, transparency, equal access.

• Example: "Democracy suffers when there is information asymmetry."

6. Body blow (Idiom)

• Definition: A severe setback or a damaging impact that causes significant harm.

• Synonyms: Severe shock, crushing impact, major setback, heavy loss.

• Antonyms: Boost, advantage, support.

• Example: "The amendment was described as a body blow to the RTI."

7. Paradox (Noun)

• Definition: A seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or situation which, when investigated, may prove to be well-founded or true.

• Synonyms: Contradiction, inconsistency, dilemma.

• Antonyms: Consistency, agreement, logic.

• Example: "It is a paradox that the state can access data but citizens cannot."

8. Invasion (Noun)

• Definition: An unwelcome intrusion into someone's private life or domain.

• Synonyms: Intrusion, encroachment, violation, interference.

• Antonyms: Protection, respect, safeguard, defense.

• Example: "Disclosure may result in an invasion of privacy."

9. Enact (Verb)

• Definition: To make a bill or other proposal into an official law.

• Synonyms: Legislate, pass, establish, institute, authorize.

• Antonyms: Repeal, abolish, revoke, nullify.

• Example: "The RTI Act was enacted in 2005."

10. Procurement (Noun)

• Definition: The action of obtaining or acquiring something, especially goods or services, through an official process.

• Synonyms: Acquisition, purchase, sourcing, collection.

• Antonyms: Disposal, sale, relinquishment.

• Example: "Procurement records ensure accountability."

Grammar, Antonyms, and Phrasal Verbs

Grammar Rule: Error Spotting

1. Sentence: "The RTI Act was enacted for creating an informed citizenry and ensuring state accountability."

• Result: No Error. The parallelism (for) creating... and ensuring... is grammatically correct.

2. Sentence: "The amendment amounts to a blanket ban in disclosure of personal information."

• Error: The preposition 'in' is incorrect.

• Correction: "The amendment amounts to a blanket ban on disclosure of personal information."

Antonym

• Word: Feckless (meaning weak, ineffective, worthless).

• Opposite: Strong.

Phrasal Verbs

1. Play along

• Meaning: To cooperate with something for fun or to pretend to agree.

• Answer: Cooperate for fun.

2. Pull through

• Meaning: To survive a difficult situation or a serious illness.

• Answer: Survived.

Also Read:

• SSC Monthly Current Affairs
• SSC Weekly Current Affairs

Editorial Paragraph 19 February 2026

On Monday, the Supreme Court of India referred a series of petitions challenging the amendment to Section 8(1)(j) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, to a Constitution Bench, recognising its “constitutional sensitivity”.

The Chief Justice of India even remarked that the Court might “have to lay down what is meant by ‘personal information’”. The RTI Act, 2005 was enacted to create an informed citizenry and ensure state accountability, which is vital for a democracy.

Over two decades later, the DPDP Act has delivered a body blow by diluting one of its foundational sections.

Section 8(1)(j) originally allowed the withholding of personal information only if it had no relationship to any public activity or interest, or if its disclosure resulted in an unwarranted invasion of privacy.

Crucially, the section included a “public interest override” as an integral feature of the 2005 Act, permitting disclosure if a Public Information Officer was satisfied that the larger public interest justified it. The DPDP amendment removes this override and prohibits the disclosure of “any information which relates to personal information”, amounting to a blanket ban.

This enables rejecting requests concerning officials, procurement records, audit reports or public spending. In its campaign for the RTI, the Internet Freedom Foundation has highlighted a “legitimate uses” paradox here: while Section 7 of the DPDP Act allows the state to process personal data without consent, the RTI amendment prevents citizens from using similar principles to seek transparency from the state.

Comprehension Questions & Answers

Q1 Why did the Supreme Court refer the petitions to a constitutional bench?

Answer: Because the matter had constitutional sensitivity.

Q2 What was the primary purpose for enacting the RTI Act of 2005?

Answer: To create an informed citizenry and ensure state accountability.

Q3 Under the original Section 81(j), when could personal information be withheld?

Answer: If its disclosure would invade privacy without justification.

Q4 Why is the DPDP amendment criticized?

Answer: Because it removes the public interest override provision from the RTI Act.

Q5 What does the phrase "blanket ban" mean in this context?

Answer: A complete prohibition.